° 1975

Born in Mukachevo (UA), lives in Kyiv (UA).

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk is a social activist and lead vocalist for Okean Elzy, the most successful rock band in Ukraine, whose music has been inextricably tied to the story of Ukraine. As an activist, Svyatoslav supported the Orange Revolution (2004 – 2005) and Maidan (2013-2014) democratic uprising. He is the founder of a charity fund called “Lyudi Maybutnyogo” (People of the Future). In 2003, Vakarchuk became an Honorary Ambassador of Culture in Ukraine and in 2005 he was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. Vakarchuk is also a former member of the Verkhovna Rada parliamentary committee for freedom of expression and information. Vakarchuk has the rank of lieutenant in the army which allows him to travel around Ukraine: since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February he gave over a hundred concerts on the frontline.